Fastening arrangement at the ends of two straps for the detachable connection thereof

ABSTRACT

A fastening arrangement at the ends of two straps for the detachable connection thereof. At the end of at least one of the straps there are provided two self-adhering strips spaced one behind the other in the lengthwise direction of such strap. A connection member with two retaining bars is provided and such connection member can be attached or is attachable to the end of the other strap. At least one of the retaining bars, in the closed position of the fastening arrangement, being disposed between the strips of one of the straps and within a loop formed by the joining of such strips. The edges of the straps are hemmed and each of the retaining bars is provided at its inner side with two guide indentations for the hemmed edges, and these hemmed edges are thicker than the guide indentations are deep.

nited States Patent Doerpinghaus Sept. 2, 1975 [5 FASTENING ARRANGEMENTAT THE 2,346,887 4/1944 Winkler 24 201 BN ENDS OF TWO STRAPS FOR THE2,727,289 12/1955 White et a1. 3,307,872 3/1967 Murcott DETACHABLECONNECTION THEREOF 3,482,289 12/1969 Stradella..... [75] Inventor: KurtGeorg Doerpinghaus, Bulle, 3,520,033 7/1970 Usuda 24/201 D Switzerland[73] Assignee: Kade Patentverwertungs AG, pnfinary Exam ler Paul GllhamGlarus Switzerland Assistant ExammerKenneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Werner W. Kleeman [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 21 Appl. 190.;355,335 ABSTRACT A fastening arrangement at the ends of two straps for 0Foreign Application priority Data the detachable connection thereof. Atthe end of at Ma 5 1972 Switzerland 6680/72 least one of the strapsthere are provided two self- 1973 Switzerland 3979/73 adhering stripsspaced one behind the other in the lengthwise direction of such strap. Aconnection mem- [52] U S Cl 24/201 24/20] HE 24/2O4 her with tworetaining bars is provided and such con- 24/265 nection member can beattached or is attachable to [51 1 Int Cl 2 A44B 11/25 the end of theother strap. At least one of the retaining [58] Fie'ld D 20] CF bars, inthe closed position of the fastening arrange- 24/201 S, 201 EN, 201 HE,75, DIG. 18, 197, 198, 200, 222 SE, 222 SF, 230 SL, 230 TC, 74 R, 77 R;2/338 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,970 5/1896 Dreyfus2/338 2,051,173 8/1936 Leonard 24/198 I 21 l 22\ 23 16 1 I I 20 J ment,being disposed between the strips of one of the straps and within a loopformed by the joining of such strips. The edges of the straps are hemmedand each of the retaining bars is provided at its inner side with twoguide indentations for the hemmed edges, and these hemmed edges arethicker than the guide indentations are deep.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Pmmmsmms 3,902,229

sum 2 OF 2' FIG 5 FIG 6 FIG 8 FIG. 9

FASTENING ARRANGEMENT AT THE ENDS OF TWO STRAPS FOR THE DETACHABLECONNECTION THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a new and improved construction of fastening arrangement forthe ends of two straps for the detachable interconnection thereof,wherein at the end of at least one of the straps there is provided twoself-adhering strips spaced in tandem in 1 the lengthwise direction ofsuch one strap, at the other strap there being attached or attachable tothe end thereof a connection member with two retaining bars, at leastone of these retaining bars, in the closed position of the fasteningarrangement, being located between the strips of one of the straps andwithin a loop formed by the joining of such strips.

Such type fastening arrangements should be as flat as possible,particularly when they are used for brassieres. In other words, theconnection member especially should be as thin as possible and theretaining bars as narrow as possible. However, such requirements areactually in opposition to the not inconsiderable strength requirementswhich are imposed upon the fastening arrangement and the connectionmember thereof. Furthermore, in the fastening arrangements of the typeheretofore known in the art especially when the same are employed forthe detachable connection of the straps formed of very thin fabric thereis always present the risk that when the fastening arrangement assumesits closed position, the straps will shift in the connection member.Consequently, accurate adjustment of the fastener becomes impossible,quite apart from the esthetic disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved fastening arrangement for the ends oftwo straps for the detachable connection thereof which is not associatedwith the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art proposals.

Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at theprovision of a fastening arrangement or fastener of the type describedherein, without any impairment of its strength properties, and whereinthe connection member can be formed of a thin material and the retainingbars made narrower and wherein further, shifting of the straps in theconnection member is at least rendered more difficult.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to animproved construction of fastening arrangement for the ends of twostraps for the detach able connection thereof wherein the connectionmember and the straps are configured to cooperate with one another insuch a manner that shifting of the straps at the connection member is atleast rendered more difficult if not extensively avoided.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the invention contemplates that the edges of the straps arehemmed, and each of the retaining bars is provided at its inner sidewith two guide indentations or grooves for the hemmed edges, the hemmededges being thicker than the guide indentations are deep.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein:

FIGS. la and lb are perspective views showing the two straps prior totheir interconnection, and employ- 0 ing a connection member accordingto a first embodiment;

FIG.'2 is a perspective view depicting an intermediate position of thefastening arrangement during interconnection of the straps;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in the plane of the connection member in theclosed position of the fastening arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a view of a second embodiment of a connection member for usein the arrangement of FIGS, la and 1b;

FIG. '5 illustrates in perspective view two fastener parts according toa third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view of the fastener parts depicted in FIG. 5 in a positionwhere they are connected to one another;

FIG. 7 is a view of the arrangement depicted in FIG. 6 but flipped overthrough FIG, 8 is a sectional view along the line VlII\/III of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line IXIX of FIG. 6; and

FIG, 10 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings, and as can be seen by referring to FIGS. la and lb, twoself'adhering strips 2 and 3 are sewn onto the underside of strap 1 insuch a way that these strips 2 and 3 lie in a spaced relation in thelengthwise direction of the strap. A free section 4 is left between thelengthwise spaced strips 2 and 3, as best seen by referring to FIG. la.The other strap 5 is provided at its end with a connection member 6formed as a closed loop having two retaining bars 7 and 8 and two sidepieces 11. One of the retaining bars, for instance the retaining bar 7,is sewn to the strap 5 while the other retaining bar, namely theretaining bar 8, protrudes past the end of the strap 5. It is preferableto have the seam 12 located as closely as possible to the outer edge ofthe bar 7.

Continuing, it will be understood that the edges Ia and 5a of the strapsI and 5 respectively, are hemmed in such a manner that the hem coversthe long edges of the self-adhering strips 2 and 3, as shown. The hemmededges la and 5a come to be positioned in connection member 6 incorresponding groove-shaped indentations or channels 9 and 10respectively, of the two retaining bars 7 and 8, the indentations 9 and10 serving as guides.

To effect the connection between the straps l and 5, the strap 1 isdrawn through the connection member 6, preferably formed of a suitablesynthetic material, while the retaining bar 8 assumes a position at thefree section 4 between the two self-adhering strips 2 and 3, as bestseen by referring to FIG. 2. Then the end of the strap 1 with theself-adhering strip 3 is folded back until this strip 3 comes to lie onthe strip 2, so that only a slight pressure is needed to cause thestrips 2 and 3 to adhere to one another. Hence, the free section 4 formsa loop through which passes the retaining bar 8. Furthermore, thedimensions are so chosen that the thickness of the hemmed edges 1a and2a is greater than the depth of the indentations or channels 9 and 10.

These dimensions insure that the hemmed edges will rest on the bottom ofthe indentations 9 and I and the central portion of each strap 5 and ldisposed between the indentations l0 and 9, respectively, will be spacedfrom its respective retaining bar 8 and 7, as best seen in FIG. 3, withthe result that the tensile stresses which occur are transmitted to theconnection member solely at the area of such indentations, in contrastto conventional fastening arrangements where the strap rests against therespective retaining bar over its entire length, so that the resultantof the tensile forces is located at the center of the bar. Owing to suchdistribution of the forces in these prior art fasteners, there ispresent the danger that their retaining bars will buckle. To avoid suchbuckling, it has been necessary to preferably use thicker connectionmembers with wide bars, something which is not particularly desirablefor esthetic reasons. If, however, as in the case of the embodimentunder discussion, the forces are applied at the outer ends of theretaining bars 7 and 8, i.e., at the area of the side pieces 11, thenthe danger of buckling is avoided, and hence there is afforded thepossibility of using comparatively thin connection members with narrowbars, without there being present the risk of any such deformation.

Moreover, the aforementioned dimensions eliminate the danger that thestrap edges might be damaged by the inner corners of the indentationswhen the straps are pulled through the connection member.

The guiding of the strap edges 1a and 5a in the aforementionedgroove-shaped indentations or channels 9 and 10 respectively, achievesstill another purpose. Thus, even when there are present eccentrictensile loads or stresses, these edges can be kept from departing fromthe indentations, and thus the straps 1 and 5 can be retained againstshifting in the connection member 6.

Finally, there is attained the further advantage of being able to usesheet material without selvage for self-adhering strips 2 and 3, sinceravelling is prevented by the hemming of the strap edges, the edges ofthe strips being covered by the hems. In comparison to selvaged ribbonmaterial, however, such sheet material is considerably less expensive.Finally, the tensile strength of the edges is greatly increased by thehemming; this constitutes an important advantage especially in the caseof corsetry, particularly brassieres, where the strap material consistsof fabrics which are as thin and light as possible. Consequently, thedescribed embodiment of fastener arrangement especially provides thepossibility of using thinner connection members with comparativelynarrow bars, and additionally, the position of the connection member issecured while at the same time there are satisfied the prerequisites foreconomical manufacture.

In the second embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, a center bar 11a isdisposed between the retaining bars 7 and 8 and in parallelism therewithin such a way that be tween this center bar 11a and the central portionof the retaining bar 7 there is left open a slot or slit 11b, the

width of which is less than the thickness of hemmed edges 5a. Thisembodiment of the invention offers still greater security againstshifting of the strap 5 in the connection member 6, so that the lattercannot twist with respect to the strap 5 nor can any lateraldisplacement forces act upon the edges In of the strap 1.

The fastening arrangements depicted in accordance with the embodimentsof FIGS. 5 to 10 render it possible to simplify the closure or closingoperation without there being associated therewith disadvantages of anykind as concerns its strength.

In FIGS. 5 to 10 and for the sake of simplicity in the illustration, thetwo strap ends have been conveniently omitted from the showing of thedrawings, but it is to be understood that one of these straps is drawnthrough the strap-receiving slot 13 and the other through the strapreceiving slot 14. On both of these strap ends there is applied on theunderside thereof self-adhering strips which are spaced in tandem in thelengthwise direction of the associated strap. Now when the strap endsare connected to the connection member 15, then, each strap end islooped through one of the strapreceiving slots 13 and 14 respectively,in such a way that the self-adhering strips thereof come to lie uponeach other and can be joined by pressing them against each other: inaddition, the respective retaining bars 16 and 17 each come to bepositioned between the two strips of each strap.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 to 9, the connection member 15consists of two fastener parts 18 and 19. The first fastener part 18 isprovided along one of its long sides with the strap-receiving slot 13.This strap-receiving slot 13 is limited towards the outside by theretaining bar 16 having a respective groove 20 at each of its two ends.The depth of these grooves 20 is less than the thickness of the hemmedstrap edge which comes to lie therein. Adjacent to the strap-receivingslot 13 is an aperture 21 which is bordered by the two crosspieces 22and 23 and by the side pieces 24 and 25. The crosspiece 22 on the onehand and the crosspiece 23 on the other hand are located in differentparallel planes, i.e., they are separated by a distance corresponding tothe thickness of inner crosspiece 22. Furthermore, toward the outeredges of the two side pieces 24 and 25, there are provided two holes orbores 26 which, in the case of constructions having a wider outercrosspiece 23, also might be situated in the extension of side pieces 24and 25.

The second fastener part 19 also has a strap-receiving slot 14 on itsinner side, and this slot is limited towards the inside by retaining bar17 having the lateral grooves 27. The limitation at the opposite side isformed by a supporting portion or edge 28. At the region of the centralportion of the supporting portion or edge 28 there is carried a tongue29 which projects therefrom, the supporting portion or edge 28 and thetongue 29 lying in parallel planes separated by a distance correspondingto that prevailing between the planes of the crosspieces 22 and 23 ofthe other fastener part 18. The width of tongue 29 is slightly less thanthat of aperture 21. In the extensions of each of the two side pieces 30and 31 there is a projecting plug 32, which may preferably be undercut,as best seen by referring to FIG. 8. The spacing of these plugs 32corresponds to that of the holes 26, while the plug diameter is suchthat it forms a snap-fastening with the associated hole.

To connect the two fastener parts 18 and 19, the tongue 29 ofthefastener part 19 is pushed through the aperture 21 of the other fastenerpart 18 and then pivoted until the tongue 29 rests against the upperside of the crosspiece 22 and the supporting edge 28 rests against theunderside of the crosspiece 23. The plugs 32 then enter the holes 26,whereby the two fastener parts 18 and 19 are secured in the connected orclosed position. The achievement of the closure position is indicated bythe sound of the undercut plugs 32 snapping into their associated holes26.

To separate the fastener parts 18 and 19, it is sufficient to pivot themagainst each other to one side until the plugs 32 have withdrawn fromthe holes 26 and then to pull the tongue 29 out of the aperture 21.

Accordingly, the fastening is possible only by means of a reciprocalpivoting of the fastener parts 18 and 19 in one direction; when used inconnection with a brassiere, for instance, the arrangement is preferablysuch that the pivoting motion necessary for opening the fastener takesplace away from the body of the wearer hence a pivoting movement ormotion which cannot take place unintentionally because of the pullexerted on the two fastener parts.

The tensile stress is transmitted from the one fastener part to theother solely by means of the plugs 32. Now since the straight-lineconnection between the corresponding groove and a hole or a plug 32 liesin the direction of pull, these forces are transmitted to the parts ofretaining bars 16 and 17 having the grooves solely through the agency ofthe sidepieces 24 and 25 or 30 and 31, so that the fastener parts 18 and19, in other words the connection member 15, is not exposed to anybending stresses whatsoever. This extremely favorable transmission offorces makes it possible to fabricate a very thin connection member, forexample formed of synthetic material so that it is not bulky andnonetheless fulfills all strength requirements.

Additionally, there exists the possibility of modifying the position ofeach fastener part 18 and 19 relative to the strap end to which it isattached by pulling the selfadhering strips of each strap apart andjoining them again at the correct distance. This also insures that whenthe fastening arrangement is used in conjunction with brassieres, theconnection member can be positioned exactly at the center of the back ofthe user.

In order to preclude the danger that precisely when this adjustment ofthe connection member is being made, a strap whose two self-adheringstrips have been separated slips through the respective strap-receivingslot 13 or 14, it is advantageous to provide a thickening or thickenedportion at the extreme end of each strap. Moreover, such thickening orthickened portion can be easily produced in that when the straps arebeing manufactured, an additional layer of material is sewn on toprevent the strap ends from ravelling, the straps then being cut-off inthe middle of this layer so that it simultaneously forms the desired endthickening or terminal thickened portion.

FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention which isparticularly suitable for production of a front fastener for brassieresand, as such, is attached between the two cups. For this purpose, thepart of the fastener part 18a between aperture and strap-receiving slot13 is made comparatively long and bent at an angle of approximately 30,so that the strap-receiving slots of the two fastener parts 18a and 19aare located in planes which form the respective angle with one another.For securing the mutual position of sections 33 and 34 of the fastenerpart 18a, which are at an angle to one another, there is provided atransverse brace 35. Of course, it would be equally possible toappropriately extend the portion of the fastener part 19a between thestrap-receiving slot 14 and the tongue and to appropriately bend it atan angle. In both cases the connection member can be simultaneously usedto effect a cleavage, with the additional possibility of combiningfastener parts 18a and 19a with some other shaping elements.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims, Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening arrangement for the ends of two straps for the detachableinterconnection thereof, at the end region of at least one of the strapsthere being provided two self-adhering strips in a spaced relation inthe lengthwise direction of said one strap, a connection membercomprising two fastener parts detachably connectable with one another,each of said fastener parts having a retaining bar, and adapted to beattached to the end of a respective strap, a first one of said fastenerparts having an aperture limited by two side pieces and two crosspieces, each cross piece lying in a different parallel plane, a secondfastener part having a supporting portion and a tongue projectingoutwardly from said supporting portion and disposed in a plane parallelthereto, which parallel plane is separated from the plane of thesupporting portion by a distance corresponding to that between theplanes of the two cross pieces of said first fastener part, said tongueadapted to be introduced into the aperture of the first fastener partfor the purpose of closing the fastening arrangement in such a mannerthat the supporting portion rests against one side of one cross pieceand the tongue rests against the oppositely-facing side of the othercross piece, and further including fastening means in the form of plugsprovided at one fastener part and corresponding holes provided in theother fastening part, said plugs being arranged for entering into thecorresponding holes in the other fastening part, at least one of theretaining bars, in the attached position of the fastening arrangement,being situated between the strips of one of the straps and within a loopformed by the joining of such strips, said two straps having hemmededges, each retaining bar being provided at its inner side with twoguide indentations for the hemmed edges.

2. The fastening arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said plugscomprise undercut plug members.

3. The fastening arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein a strap endhaving two self-adhering strips in spaced relation to one anotherlengthwise of such strap is drawn around the respective bar of each ofthe fastener parts, each of the strap ends being folded-back in aclosure position to form a loop so that the two selfadhering strips ineach strap can be joined to each other, each retaining bar beingdisposed in a position between the self-adhering strips of therespective strap end.

4. The fastening arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein of the twofastener parts one of the fastener parts is bent at an angle at aportion located between its retaining bar and a part thereof serving forconnection with the other fastener part.

1. A fastening arrangement for the ends of two straps for the detachableinterconnection thereof, at the end region of at least one of the strapsthere being provided two self-adhering strips in a spaced relation inthe lengthwise direction of said one strap, a connection membercomprising two fastener parts detachably connectable with one another,each of said fastener parts having a retaining bar, and adapted to beattached to the end of a respective strap, a first one of said fastenerparts having an aperture limited by two side pieces aNd two crosspieces, each cross piece lying in a different parallel plane, a secondfastener part having a supporting portion and a tongue projectingoutwardly from said supporting portion and disposed in a plane parallelthereto, which parallel plane is separated from the plane of thesupporting portion by a distance corresponding to that between theplanes of the two cross pieces of said first fastener part, said tongueadapted to be introduced into the aperture of the first fastener partfor the purpose of closing the fastening arrangement in such a mannerthat the supporting portion rests against one side of one cross pieceand the tongue rests against the oppositely-facing side of the othercross piece, and further including fastening means in the form of plugsprovided at one fastener part and corresponding holes provided in theother fastening part, said plugs being arranged for entering into thecorresponding holes in the other fastening part, at least one of theretaining bars, in the attached position of the fastening arrangement,being situated between the strips of one of the straps and within a loopformed by the joining of such strips, said two straps having hemmededges, each retaining bar being provided at its inner side with twoguide indentations for the hemmed edges.
 2. The fastening arrangement asdefined in claim 1, wherein said plugs comprise undercut plug members.3. The fastening arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein a strap endhaving two self-adhering strips in spaced relation to one anotherlengthwise of such strap is drawn around the respective bar of each ofthe fastener parts, each of the strap ends being folded-back in aclosure position to form a loop so that the two self-adhering strips ineach strap can be joined to each other, each retaining bar beingdisposed in a position between the selfadhering strips of the respectivestrap end.
 4. The fastening arrangement as defined in claim 1, whereinof the two fastener parts one of the fastener parts is bent at an angleat a portion located between its retaining bar and a part thereofserving for connection with the other fastener part.